Driving mechanism for tractors.



A. R. OGBURN. omvme MECHANISM FOR TRACTORS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.24 1915- INVENTOR A ITORNEYS A. H. OGBURN. DRIVING. MECHANISM FOR TRACTOPS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.Z4, 1915.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

Figure 1 1811.

UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALVDI BbSS OGBUBN, 0F DES MOINEB, 10 WA.

DRIVING HECHANISM FOR TBACTORS.

allablwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVIN R. OGBURN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Des Moines, inthe county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Drivin Mechanism for Tractors, of which the fol owing is a full, clear, and exact description. Y

My 'nvention relates totractors and more particularly to the gearing and means for controlling the same, the purposeof my invention being to enable the operator to handle the tractor'by aid of a single hand lever, under such conditions that the operator can readily change the speed of the tractor whether the machine be traveling forward or backward and can also reverse the direction of travel, all by the manner in which he manipulates the single hand lever.

My invention relates to the gearing of tractors and parts'related thereto for the purpose of increasing the general efficiency of these parts. L i i As my invention may assume diiferent forms, I find it impracticable to describe all of them. F orthe sake of simplicity'therefore, :I will describe'one typica form ofmy invention. l

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, formin apart of this specification, andin whic like reference characters indicate like parts.

h lan view of a tractor ui d wit -m mvention;

is a sectibn on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow and showing a partof the gearing;

Fig. 3 is'a section on the line 33 in Fig.

2, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 4; is a side view partly in elevation.

and partly in section, showing the hand lever and parts immediately associated therewith for controlling. the earin 'Fig. 5 is a view partly in p an an partly in section of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fi 6 is a section on the line 6-6 in Fig. 4 100 ing in'the direction of the arrow; and

Fig. 7 is a detail view partly in plan and partly in section of part of the connections tom the hand lever to the gearing.

The tracto'i' as a whole is shown in Fig. 1

' and is provided with a frame or body memher 8, at one end of which are a pair of load wheels 9 mounted upon an axle 10. At the opposite end of theframe or body 8, are a pair of traction wheels 11, mounted upon a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application flied December 24, 1915. Serial No. 8B,. 521.

Patented Apr. 1'7, 1917.

revoluble shaft 12. Connected rigidly with the traction wheels 11, are gear wheels 13, and meshing with ihese gear wheels are gear puuons 14 carried by a revoluble shaft 15. )ru'en from one of thepiiiions I l, is any approved differential gear designated generally by the numevil 16, and wh ch in turn drivesa gear pinon 17, the latter being mounted rigidly upon a revoluble shaft 18.

A prime mover, is shown at 19 and may be I of the usual or any desired construction- It is provided with revoluhle shaft 20 and mounted rigidly upon the latter is a bevel pinion 21, which meshes with another bevel pinion 22, the latter being mounted rigidly upon a revoluble shaft 23. This shaft oarries a pulley 24, which in practice may be brought into use when power is being con-- veyed from the tra otor to any machine ex traneous to the tractor. A clutch is shown at 26 and is provided with a neck 27 to be engaged by a olutci fork or'other suitable member for enahlin r the operator to actuate the clutch. Gonneced with the clutch 26 is a; shaft 28, which is controllable by aid of the clutch and is used for transmitting power from the prime mov to the gearing, shown in Figs. 2 and 3. r

The frame or body member 8 of the tractor provided with an opening 29 and extending through this opening is a frame 30.

This frame is held in position by bolts 32,

which extend through holes 31, as may be uiulerstood from Fi gs. 4 and 5. The frame 30 is provided with a pair of downwardly extending V-shaped portions 33 and extending through the bcttom ends of these V-.

shaped portions is a shaft 34. A pair of dog levers 3536 are cal ricd'by the shaft 34 and are adapted to swiii g thereupon. The dog lever 35 carries a leaf spring 37 (intending obliquely upward and engaging the adjacent inner portion of the frame 30. Thesleeve 43, the latter being supported by the shaft 34. The hand lever 41 is adapted to the frame 30.

rock upon the pin 42 and the sleeve 43 can rock upon the shaft 34. Hence, the hand lever 41 has practically a universal movement within limits permitted by the size of The hand lever 41 carries two-leaf springs 44-45 disposed upon its opposite sides and-extending obliquely upward,these two leaf springs respectively engaging the dog levers 35 and 36. The frame is provided with a pair of tongues 46 extending toward each other, as indicated in Fig. 5. These tongues are .prp vided with lugs 47-48 and are so arranged that the U-- shaped lug 39 of the dog lever may find lodgment between the lugs 47 and the U- shaped lug of the dog lever 36 may lodge between the lugs 48. livoted to the lower ends of the dog levers 35-36 are heads 49- 50, the head 49 forming a part of a pitman 51,'and the head 50 forming a part of a somewhat longer pitman' 52. The pitmau 51 carries a turn buckle 53, vwhereby its length may be adjusted. The itman 52 carries a turn buckle 54 foradJusting its length. The pitinan 51 carries a head 55 and the pitman 52 is provided with a head 56. The head 55 is pivotally connected with an arm 57 and the head 56 is also pivotally connected with an arm 58. A thrust rod 59 is connected rigidly with the' arm 57, and the, arm 58 is secured.rigidl upon a sleeve 60. This sleeve and the t rust rod 59' are movable independently of each other.

The operator by grasping the hand lever 41 and pressing it sidewise in one direction,

' say toward the dog lever 35, f causes the toward the dog free to swin under contro spring 44 to press hard a ainst this dog lever, so that the U-shaped ug 39 is disengaged from the lugs 47, but this does not take lace until the lever 41' fits neatly into the lfshaped lug 39. As soon, however, as the U-shaped lug 39 clears the lugs 47, the operator can swing the hand lever 41 either forward .or backward in the general direction of-travel of the tractor. Similarly, the operator by ressing the hand lever 41 lever 36, so that the lever lodges within the U shaped lug 40, can, further pressure dislodge the U- shape lug 40 from engagement with the lugs 48 and this leaves the hand. lever either forward or backward of the operators hand, the hand lever carrying the dog lever 36 with it. Such being the case, the operator by moving the hand lever 41 and actumating the dog levers 35-36, as just described, can cause the itmen 51-52 to move .the thrust rod 59 an sleeve 60; that is to say,xby manipulating the single hand lever 41, the operator canmove the thrust rod 59 in either of two directions and can move the sleeve '60 in either of two directions, but he is unable to move both the thrust rod 59 and the sleeve 60 at the same-instant.

it is evident that he can cause length. thereof.

Moreover after moving one of the members 59 or 60 from its normal position, the operator is unable to move the other one until the member first moved is restored to its normal position. If, for instance,'the lever engagement with the U-shaped lug 40, and

this step sleeve 60.

Supported by the frame work of the tractor, is a casing 61, provided with a head 62, the latter being held in position b bolts 63.

is absolutely essential to move the Mounted within the casing, IS a arge gear wheel 64 carrying a pair of annular racks 65-66, the rack 66 being of smaller diameter and concentric to the rack 65. The gear wheel 64 is provided with a hub 67, the latter being secured by a key 67 upon the shaft 18. As may be understood from Fig. 3, this shaft extends through a bearing 69, having in this instance, the form of a stufling box. Mountcd'loosely upon'the shaft 28, are anumber of clutch members 70-71- 72-73, each having generally the form of a sleeve. The clutch members are severally provided with bevel pinions 70'-71 72"- 73', connected rigidly therewith, :and seven ally adapted to be turned by ttiifshaft 28 when ino erative relation thei'eta- The clutch member 70 extends through a bearin 74 and the clutch member 73 extends throng a similar bearing 75. The clutch members 71 and 72 are mounted in bearings 76-77, the latter being secured to the casing by fastenings 78, as may be understood rom Fig. 2. Mounted upon the shaft 28 are twoclutch members 79-80. These clutch members are each double handed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3iand are eachsp'lined in position, so as to turn with the shaft 28 and yet to be movable slightly 'in the direction of the ngagin' the clutch members 79-80 are clutch orks 81-82, the clutch fork 81 being mounted'rigidl upon the thrust rod 59 and the clutch ork 82 being secured fast upon the ovable sleeve 60. A bearing 83 supports the adjacent end of the thrust rod 59 in such manner as to accommodate theehd thrust 0! this rod and a bearing 84 engages the sleeve 60, .so as to permit of the'endwise movement of the lat-. ter. The casing 61 is supported upon cross I beams 85.

Since the operator b aid qthe hand lever {41 can move the t rust rq 59 in the direction of its length, as abovj described, he clutch fork 81 to'shift the clutch mom or 79 in either of two directions. By doing this,

lie can bring it into engagement with the clutch member 70, or with the clutch member 71.. Similarly, since by aid of the hand lever 41, he can move the sleeve 60 in the direction of its length, he 'cancause the clutch fork S2 to shift the clutch member 80 in either of two directionathus bringlng it into engagei'nent with the clutch sleeve 72 or the clutch sleeve 73, as the case may be. It also evident that since the operator is unable to move the thrust rod 59 and the shaft 60 at the same instant and since after moving either of these members out of its' normal position, he must restore it before he can move the other out of its normal. .position, it follows that the clutch members 79---80 cannot both be out of normal position at the same instant. The normal position of the clutch member 79 is midway between the clutch members 70 and 71. The normal position. of the clutch member 80 is midway between the clutch members 72 and 73. Hence if the clutch member 79 be in engz'tgement with either the clutch member 70 or the clutch member 71., the clutch mem-. ber 80 must necessarily be disconnected from op *rative relation with the clutch member 2 and 73. When the clutch member 80 in o] )erative relation with either of the two clutch members just mentioned. and with which it immediately associated, the clutch member 79 must for the moment be disconnected from the clutch members 70 and 71..

The gear wheel 64 being driven constantly in a particular direction, say clockwise according to Fig. 2, it is plain that if the clutch member 7 9 is shifted in one direction, the tractor Will be given a predetermined speed. If shifted in the opposite direction, the tractor will be given a different "speed, the general movement of the machine, however, being in the same direction for both of these speeds. If, instead of this, the clutch member 80 be shifted first in one direction and then in the other, the tractor will move in a direction opposite to that contemplated by the condition just described and the speed. of the machine will vary according to the direction of movement of the clutch member 80.

It is impossible for power to be supplied to more than one of the gear pinions TO fl -W 73 at the same instant and no matter how the machine may be handled,

the danger of breakage from this cause is abolished.

As may be readily seen from the foregoing remarks, the operator by handling the hand lever 41 can give the tractor either of two predetermined speeds in each of its two directions of travel and may also reverse the direction of travel, all without taking his hand from the single hand lever employed.

I do not limit myself to the precise construction shown, as variations may be made a pair of dog 11 were mounted upon opposite sides of said hand lever and each provided with a lug, adapted to be engaged by said hand lever, the hand lever when in engagement with the lug of one of said. dog levers being out of engagement with the lug of the other dog level, change speed gearing connected with one of said dog levers and controllable'thereby; and change speed. gearing connected with the other of said dog levers and controllable thereby.

2. In a tractor controlling mechanism, the combination of a revolub'le shaft, means for turning the sen .e constantly in one direction,

a pair of clutch members splined upon said revolubleshaft a thrust rod connected with one of said clutch members,a movable sleeve connected with the other clutch member, a

pair of levers, a shaft on which said levers are mounted to swing, members connecting said levers respectively w1th the thrust rod and the moval le sleeve, and a single hand lever carried by said shaft for actuating either of said 'l avers tor shifting said clutch. members one a1 a time from a predeterminednormal position; other clutch members lo: cated to be engaged by said first-mentioned clutch members; and change-speed mech'w inism connected with said clutch members thus located :11 d controllable by the same. p 3. In a devi we of the character described, change-speed gearing for driving a tractor in one direction of travel, change-speed gearing for driving; said tractor in the opposite direction of tr we], a thrust rod movable in the. direction of its own length forthrow- .ing said first-I ientioned change-speed gear-' .ing into and oil; of action, a movable sleeve connected with said second-mentioned change/speed gearing for throwing the same into and out of action, aslngle hand lever,

and mechanism connected with said single hand lever and said thrust rod and said movable sleeve tor enabling both of said changespeed gearing to be controlled from said single hand le ver.

t. The coml ination of change-speed gearing for driving a tractor in one direction of travel, change-speed gearing for driving said tractor In the opposite direction of travel, a sing] :a hand lever, dog levers having members for engagement by the single hand lever tc actuate the dog lovers, the said hand lever when in operative engagement with one of said dog levers being out of engagement with the other dog-lever, pitmen eonnectel with' the dog levers, and members connected with the pitmen, one of said member: being connected with said 139 vfirst-mentioned change-speed gearing, and

the said of one of said change the other member being connected with said second-mentioned change-speed gearing.

'5. A device of the character described, comprising change-speed gearing for driving a tractor in one direction of its travel,

change-speed gearing for driving the tractor in the opposite direction of its travel, a movable member for controllingwne of 'said change-speed gearings, a second movable member for controlling the other of said change-speed gearings, a single hand lever for actuating'cither of said movable members, and mechanism connected with said single hand lever and controllable thereby for preventing said hand lever from afi'ecting one of said change-speed gearings, While hand lever is controlling the other of said change-speed gearings.

6. A device of the character described, comprising a change-speedgearing for driving a tractor in one direction, a change-speed gearing for driving said tractor in the op oslte-glirection, apair 'ofseparate mova 1emembers connectedavith said change-speed gearings for cgntrolling the same, a single band lever having a predetermined normal idle position, mechanism connected with said hand lever and controllable'thereb when said hand lever occupies a predetermined abnormal position for the purpose of cont"-lling one of said change-speed gearings, and

mechanism connected with said hand lever and controllable thereby when said hand lever occupies-another predetermined abnormal posit on for the purpose of controlling the other of said change-speed gearings, the

said hand lever when inv imme iate control speed-"*gearings bein out of position for controlling the-other 9 said change-speed gearin 7. A device of the comprising a change-speed gearing for driving a tractor'in one speed gearing for driving said tractor in e opposit'e 'direction, a pair of movable ni'emjeach connected with one of acid change.-

speed the same, a

- lugs, means enga aracter described, I

on, a chan single hand lever for actuating both of said movable members, a pair of dog levers mounted upon opposite sides of end single hand lever and each adapted to be engaged thereby, the parts being, so arranged that when said hand lever is in engagement with one of said dog levers, it is out of engagement with the other dog lever, and connections from said dog levers to said movable members.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a change speed gearing for driving a tractor in one direction, a change speed gearing for driving said tractor in the opposite direction, a pair of members each connected with one of ings for actuating the same, a pair of levers each connected with one of said members,

the said levers being provided with U-shaped d by the lugs of the said levers to normal y hold the said levers in inactive position, and a single band lever adapted to engage the lug of either of said levers to disengage and actuate the said lever.

9. A device of the character described, comprising a change speed gearing for driving a tractor in one direction, a change speed gearing for driving said tractor in the opposite direction, movable members each connected with one of said change speed gearings for actuating the same, a frame secured to the body of the tractor, a shaft journaled in said frame, a pair of levers carried by said shaft, connections from said levers to said movable members, a sleeve mounted to rock on said shaft, and a single hand lever extending through said frame between the said levers and mounted to rock on said sleeve,"

said change speed gear-v said hand lever being adapted to engage and I actuate either of said levers.

In witness whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presenee ofatwo subscribing tea:

. ALVIN ROSS QGBURN. "Witnesses:

' A. SHERMAN WiLLIAM P. line. 

